Detroit Free Press Columnist

Related Links

MIAMI — The Great Jhonny Peralta Experiment is loaded with “ifs” and “buts.”

If Peralta can learn how to play leftfield before the playoffs.

If he can play a passable leftfield; not even great, just adequate.

If his lack of speed and experience doesn’t hurt the Tigers in a close game.

If he can shake off the rust at the plate.

If he can hit like he did before his 50-game suspension for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.

If he can return to the six hole and give the Tigers some offense in a spot in the batting order that was missing during his absence.

If all those things happen, then this experiment will turn into a grand success.

But what are the chances of that happening?

For that answer and to get an even bigger, big-picture perspective on all things possible, we turn to the great philosopher Torii Hunter, whose favorite line touches on iffy subjects.

“If ifs were fifths, we’d all be drunk,” Hunter said, leaning back in his chair and laughing.

Touché.

But what if it does work?

The Tigers would look brilliant in a totally lucky, haphazard, watch them turn a lemon into a margarita sort of way.

How hard could it be?

It sounds so easy.

Take a shortstop and turn him into a leftfielder.

Happens all the time in Little League, right? Kids switch positions every game, sometimes, after every inning. But the best athletes usually end up at shortstop. So it seems logical, if not possible, that Peralta could play leftfield.

But Peralta has limitations. His range, obviously.

The other issue is his inexperience. He had never played outfield until Friday night, not even as a kid, and playing outfield is harder than you think.

“You can shag fly balls all you want,” said Don Kelly, the Jack of all trades. “But when you get into the game, it is completely different.”

In games, the ball does not fly to the outfield on a nice, straight path. It curves, or slices, or drops, or hangs, or climbs right over your head.

When a left-handed batter hits a ball to leftfield, the ball has a tendency to curve to the foul line. A leftfielder has to read that play immediately.

And then, there are times when the ball is hit with topspin. “It makes the ball dive down right in front of you,” Kelly said. “It will sink.”

Now, is it possible to go from shortstop to leftfield?

Yes. Of course.

But it takes time to learn and the Tigers don’t have any left.

So they are willing to accept Peralta’s defense to get his bat in the lineup.

“It’s not going to be a perfect situation,” Leyland said.

And if Peralta plays in left in the playoffs, Leyland is willing to live with whatever happens.

A blessing in disguise

When Peralta was suspended, some thought it was the beginning of the end of the season. But it wasn’t.

And there was a side benefit. Peralta’s suspension forced the Tigers to get their shortstop of the future, Jose Iglesias, who has proven to be a great defender.

“I knew he was a special defensive player,” Tigers president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said. “I read reports on him again recently. Our own guy had him as an All Star shortstop and a special defensive player.”

Some have worried that the Tigers gave up on Avisail Garcia too quickly, and it’s probably a legitimate concern. Garcia has a great arm. He can run and play defense.

But you have to give up something to get something in return, and the Tigers have shored up their defense at shortstop for years to come.

Now, here comes the twist. Iglesias is not totally healthy. He missed about a week with an injured wrist. But he returned Friday night. “It’s sore,” Iglesias said, after the game. “It’s something I have to deal with. It’s not good. Hopefully, it goes away.”

So we are back to ifs and buts.

If Iglesias is healthy, Peralta is an option in leftfield.

But if Iglesias is hurt, then Peralta can slide back in his old role.

Still a part of the team

There’s one last factor in the Great Jhonny Peralta Experiment.

“He’s a good dude,” Kelly said. “He’s a great teammate. His attitude. He’s not a real loud guy. He’ goes about his business. He’s positive.”

Some players in the clubhouse, like Max Scherzer, have spoken openly about their disgust of anyone who uses steroids.

So it could be awkward, if not divisive, when somebody comes back from a suspension like this.

But that’s not the case with Peralta. By all accounts, he has been welcomed back with open arms.

After the Tigers clinched their third American League Central title, a couple of Tigers called him to wish him well. To tell him that he was still part of the team. To tell him he was played a major role in helping this team get to the playoffs.

And it meant the world to him.

What will his role be during the playoffs?

Maybe, he’ll start in left and get yanked in late innings. Maybe, he’ll be a pinch hitter.